Scientific Name: Tribulus cistoides
Indigenous
Description: Low-growing ground cover with bright yellow flowers that average in 2 inches in diameter. Once pollinated flowers develop in to sun shaped seed capsules that are covered with very hard and sharp spines.
Distribution: This native Hawaiian plant is uncommonly found along sandy and rocky coast lines of most islands, including the north western Hawaiian islands.
Landscape Uses and Care: As a ground cover Nohu does best in full sun with not much watering. Because of where it grows naturally conditions such as hight wind, salt spray, and drought will make this plant thrive. However, you must be concerened with the seed capsules. All thought the plants seem beautiful from a far it would be in your best interest to not walk around bare foot unless you want to discover the true definition of pain. They don’t call it Nohu for nothing!
Additional Information: Nohu is also known as the Hawaiian scorpion fish but the spikes on this plant are not poisonous. In fact, the seeds are the favorite food of the now very rare Nihoa finch.
Nohu